Pretty in Pink

By inkin896No Comments
With Valentines around the corner I’m dreaming of pink. Personally I love the colour, but I know some people don’t and I live with two of them. If you can’t go for a bold use of pink, even in small doses, pink can add a freshness and fun to an interior.  Paint it Pink This paint is Benjamin Moore's First Light used to freshen up a cottage bathroom. Its a subtle pink that brightens and doesn't overwhelm. Cushions An easy and economical way to imbue your interior with colour, and switch out the look for the seasons. Artwork, Wallpaper and Decals Fresh Flowers Linens and Hardware ...
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School at Home

School at Home

By inkin896No Comments
For all fellow parents out there, homeschooling is tough. Its challenging for parents and kids to stay focused on what they should be doing in a day when we are all sharing the same space. Now more than ever we are all suffering from screen fatigue, lacking social interaction and spending more and more time indoors with less physical activity.  I don’t have a solution for all the above. I try with my family to go for a walk everyday (which doesn’t always happen), and limit screen activity for my kids when they are not in school, but its an ongoing process.  My kids don’t have desks in their rooms, so we’ve set them up on a communal work table in the basement. We tell them it’s how they would be working if they worked somewhere like Facebok. That way, if needed, they can collaborate and help each other!  Similarly to my suggestions for a home office, kids need inspiration, so here are...
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Make an Entrance

By inkin8961 Comment
Entrances to our homes are the first opportunity to make a good impression. They are also one of the areas of the home that are used multiple times a day. So they need to function well too. Even though we may not be welcoming visitors to our homes during the pandemic, the time will soon come when we can entertain all of our dear family and friends again. Here are some ideas to help elevate your entrance and make it work for your needs.  Quick Fixes These simple additions to an existing entryway can improve the functionality and add style. Add hooksAdd a place to perchAdd a table or shelf Traditional hooks works well for a busy family where you can hang your jacket and bag.Sculptural hooks are a fun addition that can double as art.  BeforeAfterMy client wanted to update her entrance way with a contemporary look and at the same time incorporate seating for guests to take off shoes. These benches slide under...
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Working From Home

Working From Home

By inkin896No Comments
Working from home is a reality right now through the pandemic and may become a common theme in the future. Here are a few suggestions to elevate your home office space into a functional and inspiring work environment. Install a gallery wall Whether you are on zoom calls all day and would like an interesting backdrop, or need to imbue some colour or inspiration into your space, try adding a gallery wall. You can do this by grouping existing artwork you already have together in an interesting way.  In this office space my client had a series of photographs from a favourite artist framed consistently and wanted to showcase them in an interesting way. These are stunning pieces of art by themselves but together they make a bold statement on this charcoal wall. I made sure the space between each piece was consistent and filled the wall space from top to bottom for greatest impact. This office space needed some personality so I took...
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Guest Bedroom Refresh

By inkin896No Comments
There are a few elements in a guest room that make the occupants feel welcome. A comfy bed, a place to perch, clutter free surfaces, and a place to unpack for a lengthier stay. You could say your own entertainment system is a bonus! This guest room accumulated many "extras" over time. So it was time to help my client streamline, update the style and make it a home away from home for her guests....on a budget! Thanks to Homesense, breathing new life into already owned objects and repurposing good quality furniture, this guest room welcomes many a weary travellers. BeforeAfter BeforeAfter A fun and economical way to change the look of your room is to purchase different toss cushions, blankets or lamp shades to change with the seasons. In this case, I purchased toss cushions that can come out for Spring/Summer and others that would be used during Fall/Winter. If you have framed prints or photographs on the walls, these can...
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Bedroom and Bathroom Renovation

By inkin896No Comments
My client for this project is a successful entrepreneur with a jam packed schedule. She's also a new empty nester and wanted to start to declutter and modernize, creating an oasis for her and her husband as they enjoy kid free time! I helped her refresh her bedroom and bathroom by removing dated fabrics and accessories that caused visual distraction. I chose a subtle wall colour for the space and reimagined the fireplace. The bedroom and bathroom are open concept so a beautiful warm granite was chosen to elevate the tub and counter top, while pulling together the fireplace. Show stopping smoky bowl sinks were chosen with chrome fixtures throughout. Before and After BeforeAfter Before and After Copper accents pulled together the copper veins of the granite and also made the entire space fit in with the overall tone of her home. Gorgeous copper frames from CB2 created a gallery wall in the space with pictures from her extensive travels throughout the world. ...
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Visions of White

By inkin896No Comments
I'm embarking on my own house renovation, and I'm having visions of white! Maybe its because we are coming out of a long, snowy winter, but all I can see is expanses of Chantilly Lace walls, creamy white cabinetry and Frosty Carina counters. My goal for this renovation besides improving the functionality of our house for my family of four, is imbuing light and brightness into the interior. We have a East/West facing house so we don't get a lot of natural light. With the addition of some larger windows, a variety of lighting sources and the use of white, the house should have a bright happy quality when we are done. Using all white can be tricky though. So I will be adding warmth with the use of metals, both chrome and brass, some natural wood tones in accents, and of course pops of colour with artwork. Already the progress is exciting! Bye bye brown kitchen! Kitchen BeforeKitchen BeforeKitchen After...
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Naming My Business

By inkin8961 Comment
I was struggling with a name for my business. Nothing sounded right with my name and I know the longer I sit with something the more I question it and revisit it, and second guess myself. I recently read about the 5 second rule. Not the one where you pick up food from the floor, but the one where you count down from 5 and launch yourself into whatever situation or decision you are facing. Doing this stops your brain from registering doubt and fear that prevents you from doing what you felt was right in the first place. So here I was using my husband’s pen that lies around with no lid on it doodling and writing down every variation of my company name I could think of. Frustrated, I put the pen down to get ready to meet my friend for lunch. As I was washing my hands, trying to get the ink off of my fingers, I realized the...
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